My Lifeis back

“When I came back from Afghanistan, I was angry, depressed, and suicidal. Transcendental Meditation
has lifted my depression, eased my pain and given me my life back.”

– Luke Jensen, Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran

video Real PTSD Relief for America's Veterans

video Wounded Marines train from the inside with Transcendental Meditation

video Afghanistan veteran: “I finally felt hope again”

video Military family overcomes PTSDthrough meditation

video TM improves resilience at a military university

video PTSD relief for officers of the law

“After starting TM, my heart and mind were calmed. I had my first full night of sleep in 21 years. I have new goals in my life, and I haven’t stopped smiling ever since my first meditation.”

—Carlos, veteran of Operation Desert Storm and Liberation of Kuwait

For more information on Operation Warrior Wellness, including inquiries on how to learn TM, contact veterans@davidlynchfoundation.org

Operation Warrior Wellness: building resilience and healing the
hidden wounds of war

The nightmare of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Over half a million U.S. troops deployed since 2001 suffer from PTSD. Yet less than 20% will receive adequate care due to lack of effective treatments, fear of stigma or insufficient government resources. Half of those with PTSD won't receive any care at all.

Left untreated, PTSD cripples functioning and places veterans at great risk for violent and self-destructive behavior, including:

Alcoholism or drug abuse

Severe depression, anxiety or emotional numbness

Family and employment problems

Suicide—today, more than 6,500 vets die by suicide every year

Creating resilient warriors

Operation Warrior Wellness (OWW), a division of the David Lynch Foundation, offers the Transcendental Meditation-based Resilient Warrior Program, a simple, easy-to-learn, evidence-based approach to relieving symptoms of PTSD and major depression and developing greater resilience to stress. TM scholarships are currently available to veterans and active duty military at VA hospitals in the New York City and Los Angeles areas. Our VA hospital program is aimed at funding a study on TM for vets that will help lead to large scale government funding.

Since its initial launch in 2010, the OWW initiative has partnered with leading veterans service organizations, Army and Marine bases and VA medical centers across the country to deliver the Resilient Warrior Program to veterans, active-duty personnel and military families in need. The initiative also partners with military colleges to create a new generation of more resilient officers.

Evidence-based relief from the epidemic of mental injury

The TM-based Resilient Warrior Program has been extensively researched by over 340 peer-reviewed studies, including over $26 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health to study the program's effectiveness for reducing heart disease. Key findings include:

How does the Resilient Warrior Program fit with military life?

The Resilient Warrior Program is an ideal fit for the military community:

Evidence-based: Over 340 published studies document its effectiveness

Simple to learn: Accessible to both civilian and military practitioners—standardized instruction ensures consistent results

Easy to practice: Does not involve concentration or controlling the mind—difficult practices for those suffering intrusive thoughts and flashbacks

Confidential and portable: Can be practiced privately, anywhere, at any time

You can help our courageous veterans

Thousands of veterans and their families are waiting eagerly—often desperately—to gain the very real, practical benefits that come from this simple, stress-reducing, health-promoting technique. Our NYC and LA VA hospital program is aimed at funding a study on TM for vets that will help lead to large scale government funding. Please help sponsor a veteran today